In a notice to the guardians on Thursday, the management has said that the school will remain closed for an indefinite period as the teachers were non cooperative in running the school smoothly. The teacher union and the school management were at loggerheads over the action against a teacher who allegedly harassed students inside and outside the classroom. The management claimed that the school had to be closed as the teachers resorted to obstruction of the classes in support of the one who had been asked to furnish a written clarification following the complaint from the students.

However, the teachers have claimed that the management was against the establishment of an Institutional School Teachers’ Union (ISTU) chapter in the school, accusing that it was targeting the teacher with a false allegation of harassment.

According to school Chairperson Shyam Sundar Kakshapati, the management has already communicated to the teacher union for dialogue and both the parties will try to sort out the problem.

“We want to resolve the problem and resume the school as soon as possible,” he said. “The issue would not have taken the nasty turn had the teacher furnished the clarification.”

The school, which opened the new academic session on Thursday, announced the indefinite closure, causing confusion among hundreds of students and parents. Around 1,100 pupils study in the school from grade 1 to 10.

Welcoming the management’s offer for talks, Chairperson of ISTU chapter at Shuvatara Janardan Baral said the classes would resume very soon.

Earlier, the management had assured that the school will open very soon during an informal meeting with some guardians on Saturday.